Shirley Ballas is reportedly going to the US to be a judge on a spin-off of Dancing With The Stars - the stateside version of Strictly Come Dancing.
The choreographer, 65, joined Strictly in 2017, taking over as head judge from Len Goodman following his death.
She currently serves on the BBC dancing competition’s judging panel alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.
However, Ballas has reportedly got a new show in the works and is set to be a judge on a spin-off alongside her professional dancer son Mark Ballas, according to The US Sun.
Mark served as a dancer on DWTS for 20 series, from 2007 to 2023. He won it three times and made it to the final seven times.
Ballas’ role on Strictly could reportedly be in jeopardy if filming for the rumoured spin-off clashes with shooting for Strictly, which typically occurs between September and December.
The rumoured spin-off will be hosted by DWTS’ 2025 champion, Robert Irwin, and will focus on finding the show’s next pro dancer.
News of the new show will reportedly be announced by ABC soon, alongside details like who else will be joining the judging panel.
The Standard has contacted Ballas’ representative for comment.
Fans speculated about Ballas’ new role on Reddit, with one writing: “VERY interesting, makes me wonder if she’s considering leaving Strictly for the DWTS main show!”
“I don’t think she will leave strictly unless they both are clashing,” another added.
There have been a slew of former Strictly judges who have headed stateside after the BBC show, including Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli.
Goodman was a judge from the first series in 2005 until 2022 when he retired. He died a year later.
The stateside rumours for Ballas come just weeks after she was rushed to hospital following a “scary” fall.
The judge told her fans that she fell backwards and hit her head on a glass dressing table, and was sent for a precautionary brain scan.
“Thank you to all who reached out to see how I’m doing. Scary fall backwards hitting my head on the glass dressing table,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Trip to hospital to get a brain scan. Fortunately for me no cracked skull. I’ll rest a few days to heal my neck and back.
“Hugs thank you to Barbara McColl for getting my emergency appointment and to Sammy Stopford for taking me and sitting with me all day. Gratitude as the doctors said I was very lucky.”
